Flint Official Resigns After Using The N-Word Towards Black Victims Of Water Crisis

Flint official Phil Stair also stated African-Americans “don’t pay their bills” to an activist last month.

A public official from Flint, Mich. has resigned from him position after a recorded conversation where he called African-Americans the n-word leaked to the public.

Michigan Live reports Phil Stair, the sales manager for a county agency that manages tax-foreclosed homes, stepped down from his position Monday (June 5) after he was outset for using the racial slur when he essentially blamed black people for the city's ongoing water crisis. The conversation was recorded last month by citizen journalist and activist Chelsea Lyons.

Lyons, along with another unidentified woman, met Stair at a Flint bar in May over the course of two days to discuss how his former employer Land Bank were forcing Flint residents out of their homes. It was previously reported that thousands of residents were facing foreclosures because they refused to pay their water bills. The city has argued that resources will be dispersed throughout the city to handle the two-year man made disaster with the help from its residents. While speaking to Stair, Lyons said she was shocked by his comments.

“Detroit was charging all its customers for the cost — they weren’t collecting from their residents, they were shutting water off, they were letting bills go forever, they were charging everybody else," Stair said at the 1:15 mark. "Flint has the same problems as Detroit — f**king n*****s don’t pay their bills, believe me, I deal with them.”

He also went on to refer to African-Americans as "derelict mother f***k***" and "fu**king deadbeats" who destroy communities."They f**k the houses up and then leave, and we tear them down," he said.

His formal apology arrived with pleas of forgiveness about his "private opinion.""I feel that I cannot carry out nor be effective in my position at the Land Bank with the social media (recording) of my private opinion on the Flint water crisis and the insensitive language used," the resignation letter reads."I am deeply sorry for what I said and those I offended. I do not know how I can face my friends and co-workers."

Michele Wildman, executive director of the Land Bank, shared with NBC Newsthat Stair's opinion opinions didn't represent the company. “We are deeply troubled by the offensive and inexcusable comments,” Wildman said. “This individual does not reflect our values as a company, and we are engaging with the community to restore and regain public trust.”

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Talib Kweli made a major announcement about the forthcoming Black Star album with Yasiin Bey (a.k.a Mos Def) during Wednesday’s (June 3) episode of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Kweli appeared on the late night talks show to discuss social justice topics such as activism, racism, reparations, and police brutality.

In between discussing current events and his solo album, the Brooklyn native dropped a few details about the progress of the Black Star project.

“A lot of people have been hitting me up like 'We need that Black Star album, we need that Black Star album.' Me and Mos Def are in the final stages of the Black Star album,” he revealed. “It's produced completely by Madlib, so shoutout to Madlib and everybody at Oxnard. The new Black Star album is dealing with a lot of this subject matter. I'm working hard to get it out to the people."

The album will be the long-awaited follow-up to the hip-hop duo’s critically acclaimed 1998 debut LP, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. This isn't the first time that Black Star has made mention of the album. In 2018, Yasiin announced that the album was “coming soon.”

Kanye West popped up at a “Justice for George Floyd” rally in Chicago, hours after his $2 million donation to the families of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery was announced. West was spotted marching alongside demonstrators on the city’s South Side on Thursday (June 4).

The Chicago native contacted organizers with GoodKids MadCity to participate in the march, USA Today reports.

Yeezy didn’t stay for very long but he attempted to remain lowkey in a black mask and hoodie. According to reports, the peaceful march became somewhat chaotic as the press swarmed his black SUV.

In addition to showing support for the protest and donating money to cover legal bills and other expenses for Taylor, Arbery's and Floyd's families, the Grammy-winning rapper created a college fund for Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter.

See photos and video of West below.

pic.twitter.com/X6paTKsAZe

— TeamKanyeDaily (@TeamKanyeDaily) June 6, 2020

Not only did Kanye West donate $2 million, he also joined protests today in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/bTeFPFNAGz

— Talking Rap ✊🏾 (@talking_rap) June 5, 2020

Kanye West joins Protest in Chicago pic.twitter.com/174MwBuN8h

— Kollege Kidd (@KollegeKidd) June 5, 2020

“I am one with the people.” pic.twitter.com/1h2deUAov2

— TeamKanyeDaily (@TeamKanyeDaily) June 5, 2020

Kanye at a protest on the South Side of Chicago tonight. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/8qZVOumvPa

BET wants Donald Trump and Joe Biden to participate in an upcoming forum set to air on Juneteenth, the network announced on Tuesday (June 2). The POTUS and presidential hopeful are invited to appear on an episode of, Justice Now: A BET News Special, where they will “directly address the concerns of Black America” and share their plans to move the country forward.

Trump and Biden would be interviewed separately for the “Presidential Forum.” They will be asked to “address a range of critical issues, including the institutional racism that has led to disparities” in housing, health, income, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system.

“We stand in steadfast solidarity with George Floyd’s family, the many victims of racist brutality, and those who are using their voices and platforms to challenge it,” said President of BET, Scott Mills. “There are no easy solutions for these systemic issues of racism, injustice, and trauma. BET is leveraging every platform and resource at our disposal to support and inform our community and help identify strategies and viable solutions in this time of crisis.”

Hosted by Marc Lamont Hill, the first installment of Justice Now, debuted on Tuesday night and featured conversations with George Floyd’s family, former NBA player Stephen Jackson (who was friends with Floyd), John Legend, T.I, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, activist Tamika Mallory, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, Senator Cory Booker and more.